Portret van Willem, prins der Nederlanden 1865 - 1949

Editor: This is "Portret van Willem, prins der Nederlanden," an engraving made sometime between 1865 and 1949 and currently at the Rijksmuseum. It strikes me how detailed the engraving is, especially the Prince’s uniform. What stands out to you in this print? Curator: The material process here is key. Engraving, particularly in the 19th century, was tied to mass production and dissemination of images. It's not just about depicting the Prince, but also about accessibility. Who was meant to see this image, and how does that affect our understanding of its message? Consider the labor involved: the engraver’s skill translating likeness into reproducible lines. How does that skilled labor, and the social position of the engraver, speak to ideas about class and artistic production at the time? Editor: So, it's less about the Prince himself and more about how his image was consumed? Curator: Exactly. Think about the paper it's printed on, the ink used. These materials weren't neutral; they had a value and were part of a wider economic system. The act of reproducing this image brings the power dynamics of royalty and the material conditions of 19th-century printmaking to light. Editor: I never considered the choice of engraving as being inherently linked to a system of production. Thanks! Curator: Understanding the "how" and "why" of its making illuminates so much more than simply the "what" being depicted. It challenges that traditional art-historical focus on individual genius. Editor: Right. It definitely gives me a new appreciation for prints and the often-overlooked craft behind them.